Hearing device with rechargeable battery and movably mounted charging contacts

Abstract

A hearing device that is operated with a rechargeable battery pack has at least one contact element that is fashioned to accept a charging current in electrical connection with an external charging device. The contact element is resiliently mounted at the hearing device and can be pressed onto a charging contact of the external charging device during a charging state under the application of a positive force. The contact element is located in a first position in an operating state or rest state of the hearing device, and is moved into a second position in the charging state.

1. A hearing device comprising:
 a device housing; 
 a plurality of electrical components in said device housing and a rechargeable battery pack in said device housing that supplies power to said electrical components; 
 at least one contact element in electrical connection with said battery pack, that is configured to engage an external charging device; and 
 said at least one contact element being movably mounted in said device housing and being pressed onto charging contact with said external charging device during a charging state by an application of positive force to said at least one contact element, said at least one contact element being located in a first position relative to said device housing during a non-charging state and being moved into a second position relative to said device housing during a charging state. 
 
     
     
       2. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said contact element has an outer surface that terminates substantially flush with an external housing surface of said device housing in said first position. 
     
     
       3. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said contact element in said second position protrudes from said device housing. 
     
     
       4. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 3  comprising a spring element in mechanical engagement with said contact element and a locking mechanism that locks said contact element in said second position, said contact element being pressed against a force of said spring element from said first position into said second position, and being locked in said second position by said locking mechanism, and being released from said second position by said locking mechanism upon a subsequent pressing of said contact element, and being returned to said first position by said force of said spring element. 
     
     
       5. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said device housing has a receptacle in which said contact element is movable, said contact element being fully contained in said receptacle in said second position. 
     
     
       6. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 5  comprising a spring element in mechanical engagement with said contact element and a locking mechanism that locks said contact element in said second position, said contact element being pressed against a force of said spring element from said first position into said second position, and being locked in said second position by said locking mechanism, and being released from said second position by said locking mechanism upon a subsequent pressing of said contact element, and being returned to said first position by said force of said spring element. 
     
     
       7. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a guidance device that guides movement of said contact element between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       8. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a return element that mechanically returns said contact element into said first position upon ending of said charging state. 
     
     
       9. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a switch that moves said contact element from said first position into said second position, and vice versa. 
     
     
       10. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said switch comprises an actuation surface configured to engage said external charging device, said switch being actuated upon said actuation surface coming into contact with said external charging device. 
     
     
       11. A hearing device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said contact element is a contact pin.